Inside Russell Westbrook’s 6th Annual ‘Why Not?’ Foundation Poker Night at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Russell Westbrook’s ‘Why Not?’ Foundation Poker Night Event in Las Vegas - Photo Credit: YevzPhotography
Come with us as we review Russell Westbrook’s 6th Annual ‘Why Not?’ Foundation Poker Night at Fontainebleau Las Vegas!
The venue set inside the Poodle Room—perched on the 67th floor with sweeping floor-to-ceiling Strip views, retro-chic fur accents, metallic finishes, and mid-century modern glamour—provided the ultimate exclusive, high-stakes backdrop.
While Urban Fashion Sense wanted to be in the building for this incredible night, scheduling conflicts kept us from attending in person—so we're bringing you an event recap!
The star-studded evening raised nearly $1 million ($900,000+) to support underserved youth and families across Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. Major names across sports, entertainment, and high-stakes poker filled the room, including Phil Ivey, DeAndre Jordan, Harrison Barnes, Princess Love, Michael Mizrachi, Bill Perkins, Alan Keating, and Randall Emmett.
Highlights from the Evening
3x NBA MVP, Russell Westbrook hosted the event in style. Sporting a custom, unreleased wavy beaded set from his streetwear label, Honor The Gift. Westbrook expressed deep gratitude to guests, donors, and supporters who continue to back the Foundation’s mission to create life-changing opportunities for LA youth and families.
11-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Ivey made a dramatic entrance, taking command of the tables and going head-to-head with Westbrook in a thrilling marquee showdown before eliminating both Westbrook and Mayor David Holt.
Poker legend Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi—a 5-time WSOP bracelet winner and WPT champion—was among the elite pros, bringing star power to the felt.
Guests bid on one-of-a-kind memorabilia spanning Westbrook’s legendary NBA career, including signed on-court portraits.
Professional poker player Michail Grigorev took home the top honor, outlasting a fierce final table that included Randall Emmett and Reality TV-fave, Princess Love.
Stacks her chips while enjoying a glass of wine at the 6th Annual Why Not? Foundation Poker Night.
Giving edgy chic in a JACQUEMUS - La Robe Sierra Midi Dress.
Princess Love’s High-Stakes Reign
We love to see Princess shine—and couldn't be prouder to cheer her on! Watching her reign and shatter glass ceilings as a Black Woman and trailblazer in the poker world is truly inspiring.
Prior to making this year's final table, Love made history as the first Black woman to win a major celebrity poker tournament when she took 1st place at the Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational. She’s also taken down a trophy at the Wynn Las Vegas No-Limit Hold'em event, and racked up hundreds of thousands in live tournament earnings in just a few years.
Making a Lasting Impact
The event brought Poker Night's six-year total to nearly $3 million raised.
Proceeds will fund the Why Not? Foundation's core community initiatives:
Westbrook Academy: the public charter school in South Los Angeles, which achieved a 100% graduation rate for the Class of 2026. The school's permanent campus features state-of-the-art science labs, a film studio, and two on-site wellness centers offering an unprecedented 1:115 social worker-to-student ratio.
Community & Mental Health: youth summer camps (Why Not? hosted over 200 kids this past July), as well as Thanksgiving meal distributions, and ongoing recovery assistance for Altadena families rebuilding after the Eaton Fire.
"This is the biggest night of the year for everything we do," shared Russell Westbrook. "It pays for the school, for the kids' camp we run every July, for Thanksgiving meals in South Los Angeles... We get to be part of their lives and watch them grow. Why not?"
"As a therapist and a mother, I want every young person we reach to have someone who sees them, someone they can actually talk to, and a place where they feel safe," added Nina Westbrook, licensed marriage and family therapist and, Why Not? Foundation advisory board member.
"Every dollar we raise means more counselors, more support, and more young people who learn they don't have to carry everything alone."
📸 Photo Credit: YevzPhotography / Courtesy of Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation
🔗 Learn More & Get Involved: Visit whynotfoundation.org